The number of people employed in Hong Kong's private sector increased by 35,800, or 1.4 per cent, in December last year compared with a year earlier, according to the Census and Statistics Department. The total number of jobs in December was 34,560, representing an increase of 7 per cent, or 2, 410, over the previous year.

Schoolgirl sacked from cafe job on Facebook

A schoolgirl in Britain was sacked from her cafe job via Facebook, the Daily Telegraph reported this week. Sixteen-year-old Chelsea Taylor, who worked in a cafe in Leigh, Greater Manchester, received a dismissal letter posted on her page on the social networking site. According to the message, which was littered with grammatical errors and ending with two kisses, Taylor was fired from her Saturday job for losing a £10 (HK$115) note.

Mainland graduates concerned over job opportunities

More than a quarter of last year's mainland graduates are concerned with a lack of opportunity to develop their careers, a China Daily report says. According to a survey by  Mycos Institute, 27 per cent of more than 8,700 graduates polled nationwide cited a lack of career development opportunities as their biggest concern. Last year's downturn was blamed for the limited number of job opportunities. Low salary was the second biggest concern.